“Huh What” – Review Of Tha Dogg Pound’s Keep On Ridin

If they haven’t reached the legendary status of some of their L.A. brethren, Kurupt and Daz have carved out quite solid Hip-Hop careers, both as solo artists and of course as members of the underrated Dogg Pound. Evidently hoping to bring back memories of the glory days, the duo is back with the album Keep on Ridin’. Diehards of 90’s West Coast will appreciate the effort, but the album’s dated feel doesn’t speak well to the O.G.’s future as influencers of Los Angeles’ rap scene.

Billed as a “compilation” album, Keep on Ridin’ has the feel of a mixtape upgraded to album status, and many of the tracks no doubt have been on diehards libraries for some time. The project features plenty of guest appearances including more than one showcase from the Top Dogg himself, Mr. S-N double O P. Snoop’s presence is a blessing and a curse—he instantly lifts the quality and credibility of the tracks he graces. But the inability of the rest of Daz and Kurrupt’s rotating posse of fringe DPG’ers to carry the torch makes you wish Snoop could have found more time to run with his old gang. Still the best tracks, such as the immaculate “Bang That” ooze with stoned out funk and dope n-dirty lyrics we expect from this crew.

Unfortunately, Daz’s production fails to keep the party going all night. While the G-Funk formula still works when executed, failures lend themselves easily to a dreaded dated sound. The crooning of Uncle Reo on “Stay’d Out All Nite Long” brings to mind a failed lounge act. Worse is the trite “Leave a Message,” a true brain cell killer that relies on redundant W Ballz riffs that should have been retired two decades ago.

Lyrically, Daz and Kurupt seem comfortable remaining in a hedonistic, sophomoric zone, with a little less gangsta and a little more booty rhyming than in their youthful days. “She shake it like a baby rattle/And I’m about to spank baby ass like a paddle” grunts Kurupt on “Huh What.” 16 years after Dogg Food, Young Gotti and Dillinger are still throwing parties. Who knows if anyone’s still coming.

Ultimately Keep on Ridin’ won’t lead the revival West Coast fans are looking for, but never fear: they’re releasing another album this year.

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I wasn’t even they aware they were making an album. And from the review, neither did they.

By: petey wheatstraw

07.21.2010 @ 2:26 PM

its a rough album on some songs the mixing is just awful and when you compare this with the sonic clarity they acheieved with deathrow it really can fuck this album up.

there are a couple of real nice grooves on this album but the mixing on those songs hold it back.

dazs lyrics are at an all time low on here and when you compare this with kurupts album he did w terrance martin or quik its seems like he aint even trying.

dpg had a good run but by further releasing garbage they fuck up whatevers left of the legacy they had.

By: thecool11o3

07.21.2010 @ 2:31 PM

hey, i woulda bought this…. sike i’m lyin lol.

seems like they didn’t get the memo… g-rap is supposedly 6-feet under.

By: V

07.21.2010 @ 7:30 PM

So bascially Reggie told Kim right, I mean how else can U explain this mess!

By: The Real Anonymous

07.21.2010 @ 10:19 PM

Sorry to say… but you can thank JT (The Bigga Figga) for the poor quality. Daz went to the Bay and learned the independent game – which includes recording, promoting, and pressing an album with as little investment as possible (even if you have the money to do it properly).

Only thing is… back 10 years ago you could actually release an album that was recorded and mixed like garbage… and it would still do major numbers.

But it is no longer 2000 and times have changed. There is no excuse for that presently and unless these are old cuts (I have not listened to it so I have no idea)… Daz and Kurupt (Kurupt and Daz) should be ashamed of themselves for not caring about quality.

(Still, it should put some nice spending money in their pockets, so perhaps that is all they were after in the first place)

By: petey wheatstraw

07.22.2010 @ 12:31 AM

plus the fact that back in daz hay day he had deathrow studio musicians at his disposal and can am studios…

you really think he cakin off these projects?

By: The Real Anonymous

07.22.2010 @ 1:25 AM

@petey

Not major cake, but for certain, yes.

These artists still have fans that support anything they put out. So is it major cash? Nah… but it is throwaway money for hardly any effort.